PlantSowGrow
How to plant and care for Blueberry (Bluecrop)
Vaccinium corymbosum
Also called highbush blueberry, Vaccinium
Reliable, heavy crops of large, sweet blueberries in late summer, with fiery autumn leaves. Needs acidic compost — ideal in a big pot.
At a glance: harvest in July.
When to plant and care for it
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Blueberry (Bluecrop): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water with rainwater — tap water slowly makes the soil alkaline
- Soil
- Acidic (pH 4–5.5) ericaceous compost
- Spacing
- 1.5 m, or one per 40 cm pot
- Height
- 1.5 m
- In pots
- Grows well in containers
- Feeding
- Ericaceous feed in spring
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–7
Step by step
- On planting day
Plant
Plant 1.5 m, or one per 40 cm pot apart in weed-free, well-prepared soil enriched with compost, and water in well.
- 0–3 days after “Plant”
Water In With Rainwater
Water in well using rainwater, and keep the compost moist.
- 7–21 days after “Water In With Rainwater”
Mulch
Spread 5 cm of compost or bark around the plants to keep moisture in and weeds down.
Every year
- FebruaryWinter Prune
Remove dead, weak and crossing stems and cut one or two of the oldest stems to the base.
Starts from year 3.
- AprilEricaceous Feed
Feed with an ericaceous (acid-loving) fertiliser and top up the pine-bark mulch.
- JuneNet Against Birds
Net the bushes as the berries turn blue.
- JulyPick Blueberries
Pick berries when fully blue with a white bloom; go over the bush every few days.
